This rugged-looking English actor is known for excelling in villainous roles. Throughout the '90's he appeared in a number of high-profile films alongside the likes of Harrison Ford and Robert DeNiro, often portraying ruthless criminals and/or killers. He became more familiar to younger American audiences when he starred opposite Michael Douglas in the 2001 psychological thriller Don't Say a Word. Bean plays a malevolent jewel thief-turned-kidnapper who holds Douglas's character's daughter for ransom.

Undoubtedly his most prominent role to date is that of Boromir in Peter Jackson's The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001, 2002 & 2003). Bean has a tattoo of the English word "nine" written using Tengwar on his shoulder, which is said to symbolize his involvement in the films and the fact that his character was one of the original nine companions of the Fellowship of the Ring.